Best wall stud finder

Looking for studs in all the wrong places? After investigating over 28 of the best stud finders on the market, we compared the top 12 models side-by-side.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Jump to a Section. To find the best stud finders, we put 30 electronic and magnetic options to the test at our testing lab in Des Moines, Iowa.

Best wall stud finder

Knowing where your studs are is crucial for hanging up heavy items, like mirrors or mounts for flat-screen TVs. Some stud finders have other features, too, like deep scanning and AC wire detection. To test all the features, we put a selection of stud finders through their paces on a wall of our own making and walls in real homes. Magnetic stud finders work by waving the magnet along the wall until it catches on the fasteners that attach drywall to the studs. Since fasteners may be spaced over a foot apart on a single stud, it may take longer to locate one with a magnetic stud finder, but this is an affordable and simple option. If the builder missed the stud, so will the magnetic stud finder. In commercial construction, where metal studs are standard, you may find magnetic stud finders more useful. Most electronic stud finders work by sending out a signal from a sensor inside, then reading the signal that bounces back. Some also identify metal pipes or electrical wires. The most advanced stud finders use technology like ground-penetrating radar, which uses radar pulses to create a subsurface image. For most occasional home uses, like hanging pictures or bathroom mirrors, a magnetic stud finder will do the trick. Stud finders have their jobs cut out for them, given the many variables in wall materials and construction. While you may get definitive results in one case, you could be left scratching your head in another.

It's simple and reliable, as long as there is some steel in the stud or screws to find.

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We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more. We decided to test a slew of them to help readers find one that suits their needs, including both magnetic and electronic models to find the best stud finder options for a variety of user preferences. While selecting our list of top picks, we also decided to get professional advice about stud finder features from an expert, John Mazzuca. He is a home builder at Gambrick in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, who has more than 25 years of experience in construction. His recommendations are included below. Read on to learn what to look for in a stud finder and find out which popular models scored highest with our expert and during my tests. Home builder Mazzuca says that stud finders are great for everyday projects around the house, like mounting a TV, hanging a picture, or installing a cabinet. Since DIY projects most likely involve fixing up an older building, each one of the tools we tested had to be reliable, accurate, and versatile enough to detect a range of materials behind drywall to make this list of the best stud finders.

Best wall stud finder

Affiliate Disclosure: We may be compensated if you purchase through links on our website. Our Reviews Team is committed to delivering honest, objective, and independent reviews on home products and services. Stud finders are used to determine where the studs and fasteners in your walls are located. You can also check out our tools buying guide for more critical factors to consider when shopping for tools for your home. We found that customers who liked that this product thought it was multifunctional, saying that it gave them all of the tools they needed to hang items from their walls. However, we also noted that some customers said that it was cheaply made and only worked for some projects. We noticed that customers often praised this stud finder for its efficiency at scanning for the edge and center of a stud as well as its ability to detect studs in dense materials, such as double sheetrock. Our team found that a lot of customers said that this product rendered accurate readings and was easy to use. Others mentioned that it continued to perform well even after they had owned it for years. On the other hand, we did notice some dissatisfied customers who said that the stud finder was bulky and top-heavy, making handling difficult.

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In our testing, it found the studs, iron and copper pipes, and live AC electrical wires in our wall. The level on both of the Franklin models was also useful paired with its straight edges and measurement markings. Zircon MultiScanner A The C. Watch Next. The StudBuddy Magnetic. Craftsman StudSensor. Best Tool Sets of The T13 even has a pencil caddy that's very ergonomic, in case you can't reach your other writing tool for a quick mark. We really liked that we didn't have to hold down the button to keep sensing a feature the Tavool also has , and the functions were easy to understand. Some of the models we tested came with analog features like levels and straight edges, as well as more advanced tools like AC power sensing, magnetic sensors to detect steel studs and screws, and pipe detection abilities. We tested for accuracy, ease of use, and features, both in isolated tests as well as while working on home projects to get a feel of their real-world performance.

Hanson Magnetic Stud Finder.

A handy option if you like the ability to view the entire stud at once. Easiest to Use:. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission, which helps support our testing. Pros Accurate center finding Consistent and reliable Easy to read indicator. Sure enough, it worked. Combined, they have over two decades of construction and DIY experience in both professional and home projects. It was intuitive, user-friendly, and didn't require any calibration or multiple scans to accurately pick up studs. There are four modes of wall detection: wood stud, metal stud, deep mode for thicker walls , and AC wires. Walabot DIY Plus. We also love the light-up screen, which made it easy to use in crawl spaces or other dimly lit areas. Cons Only scans for studs. Jump to a Section.